Madison times. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1884-1???, 1887-07-02
Fat Cattle shows
The American Rural Home.

The American Rural Home.
Agricultural fairs are not always
very instructive to farmers, or, at
least, are much less instructive than
they might be made. Take the stock
department and what do we learn?
We see some animals that show a
great amount OF flesh or fat upon
their bones. and we exclaim: "What
fat animals" Are We taught by such
an exhibition that farmers should buy
animals of such breeds. at whatever
cost, for fattening? By no means.
Those animals which make such q
fine show, may have cost their OWL
ers much more than they would sell
for, as beef. BY attending fairs,
year after year, and always
seeing animals OF certain breed more
fieshy than those of other breeds, We
might feel warranted in concluding
that animals OF that breed have a
tendency to lay on fat, and that it is
the breed to choose for making beef.
Within few years, shows of diff
ferent character, which afford us
greater information, have been instI-
tured in Chicago and some other cat
tie centers OF the West. These are.
Fat cattle shows" One was held
the last week IN October, in Kansas
CITY. and another is being held, in Chi
cago. These shows do something
more than merely show the stock.
The premium cattle are butchered and
cut up, and the relative proportions
OF the best cuts are given. Then We
have a history OF the tatJening OF the
different animals, and are informed
at what cost per pound
the beef was made. and by
repetItions OF these shows and slaugh-
terings and feelings tor several sue
cessive years, we come to learn, alter
a while, what breeds will make the
cheapest beef; and this is what every
beef maker wants to know. 1t may
be q qualification OF ones pride to
show an enormous beef, but if every
pound cost more than it will sell for
in market, the gratiication may be
altogether too costly.
At the Kansas City show, We learn
that the AberdeenAngns steer,
SANDY" owned by Gudgell and
Simpson, took the first premium on
the grand sweepstakes. We have not
seen an account OF Sandy's feeding
vet. but presume it will be given TO
the public in due time. The tact that
ne was awarded the first premium,
as the best animal in the show.
shows the change that has
been gradually going on during the
last few years. But a short time ago,
the meaty short-horn was almost
without rival among candidates for
the shambles II easily carried of all
the premiums. A few years since we
were all astonished to hear that a
/ qereford had carried off the first pre-
n .um. But the general conclusion
WAS xhat the short-horn had been
caugm mapping and that, probably,
. the Hereford would never be able TO
repeat the trick. He did, however,
/ and has done so more than once, un-
/ til prestige, enjoyed for many years,
/ BY the short-horn, is gone.
! But the Hereford is not left TO enjoy,
alone, his position ofrival OF the short.
horn. For TWO or three years the
small, compact, glossy-black haired
native of the north, the hornless
Aberdeen Angus. has been coming
TO the front. and by the reports OF the
last exhibition. we perceive ne has got
there. and is awarded by the judges
the position OF hest beev~ on the